First Contact

How often has man looked up to the sky and wondered, can we really be alone? Aliens have been the stuff of science fiction, while scientists have generally held that life is unique to this planet. But recent breakthroughs have led to new ideas about the building blocks of life and increasingly sophisticated equipment is helping us explore beyond our world. Monday, Doug is joined by science writer Marc Kaufman for a conversation about astrobiology's search for extraterrestrial life.

Marc Kaufman is a science writer and national editor for The Washington Post. His book is called First Contact: Scientific Breakthroughs in the Hunt for Life Beyond Earth [ Indiebound | Amazon ]